April is typically a busy month at Hawaii Betsuin, and this year is no different in that respect. Because of all the special virtual services and events in the month of April, we thought we’d pull them together in this guide so you don’t miss what you’d like to attend. Here goes!
April 2021 Virtual Services and Events
A note on Dharma School Services: In addition to the offerings below are Dharma School virtual services over Zoom on April 11 and April 18 at 9 a.m. HST, followed by thematic activities. More information is available in our web calendar!
Dr. Jeff Wilson
Online via Zoom; registration required.
Event Web Page | Online Registration Form
The first of the April events is not specifically a Hawaii Betsuin event, instead it is one where sanghas of various Japanese Buddhist denominations come together. This is the Hawaii Buddhist Council’s annual Buddha Day service, commemorating the birth of Prince Siddhartha who would become the historical Buddha, Shakyamuni Buddha. The speaker, Dr. Jeff Wilson, is a professor of Religious Studies and East Asian Studies at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada and an ordained Honpa Hongwanji minister. He is the author of “Mindful America” and “Buddhism of the Heart” and was the Summer Session speaker at the Buddhist Study Center in 2016. Dr. Wilson’s current research is focused on Japanese-American Buddhism and social engagement.
Dr. Dexter Mar
Online via YouTube
Hawaii Betsuin YouTube channel
This is our temple’s Buddha Day service. Dr. Dexter Mar is the president of the Hawaii Betsuin Board of Directors. You can read Dexter’s President’s Message in our temple newsletter, the Goji. Recent columns have discussed various aspects of our temple vision statement, “A welcoming place where all share the joy of living with gratitude and compassion inspired by Buddhist values.”
Saturday, April 17 at 8 a.m. HST (11 a.m. PDT)
Online via Zoom; registration required.
Event Web Page | Online Registration Form
An online event hosted by the Buddhist Churches of America’s Center for Buddhist Education with Rev. Marvin Harada (Bishop, Buddhist churches of America), Rev. Eric Matsumoto (Bishop, Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii) Rev. Tatsuya Aoki (Bishop, Jodo Shinshu Buddhist Temples of Canada).
Rev. Don Castro, Rimban Emeritus of Seattle Betsuin Buddhist Church
Online via YouTube
Event Web Page | Hawaii Betsuin YouTube channel
Hawaii Betsuin initiated our annual Earth Day Service in 2017. This year we are pleased to present a message from Reverend Don Castro, Rinban Emeritus of Seattle Betsuin Buddhist Temple. A theme of Rev. Castro’s career as a Jodo Shinshu minister has been the relationship between Buddhism and environmental consciousness and engagement. He developed the concept of EcoSangha — that to be a Buddhist is to be an ecologist and a conservationist — and promoted ecological awareness and programs both within individual temples and to the Buddhist Churches of America. Reverend Castro’s message will be directed to both the Seattle Betsuin and Hawaii Betsuin sanghas and beyond.
Earth Day Zoom Sharing Session at 11 a.m.: Following the Earth Day Service, the Hawaii Betsuin Green Team will host a Zoom session for Dharma Dialogue and some environmentally-themed sharing (poetry, photos, etc.). And, back by popular demand: a prize drawing! If you’d like to attend the 11 a.m. Zoom session, please register by RSVPing to greenteaminfo@hawaiibetsuin.org. If you’d like to propose something to share during the session such as a craft, project, poem, art piece, song, photo, etc. please add that to your RSVP. Mahalo!
Carol Valentine
Online via Zoom; Hawaii Betsuin Bulletin e-newsletter subscribers will receive the Zoom link. You may also ensure you receive the Zoom link by using this Google form to register:
https://forms.gle/YHXbixUq9iqDZfgk7
Each year, a special service is held in honor of Eshinni, the wife of our founder, Shinran Shonin, and their youngest daughter, Kakushinni. Eshinni was dedicated in her support of Shinran Shonin. She made it possible for him to pursue his life’s work of spreading the Nembutsu teaching. Kakushinni cared for her father during his final years. She built a small temple in Kyoto to enshrine his ashes and portrait. This temple grew and was named the “Hongwanji.” This year’s special service will be on Sunday, April 25, 2021 and we are pleased to host Carol Valentine, President of Lihue Hongwanji Mission, as the speaker. As in past years, the Dharma school is planning the service and a special collection will support youth organizations of our temple.